FCTA begins large-scale evacuation of street beggars and miscreants from Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has launched an intensified operation to evacuate street beggars, miscreants, and persons with mental health challenges from Abuja’s streets. Over 789 individuals have been relocated as part of this exercise, officials announced on July 7, 2025.

Led by the FCT Social Development Secretariat and supported by the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, police, DSS, and NSCDC, the campaign focused on key areas including Maitama, Garki, Wuse II, and the airport corridor . Those removed were profiled, given meals (including Iftar for fasting individuals), and either offered vocational training or repatriated to their states of origin.

Mrs. Irene Adebola Elegbede, Acting Secretary of the Social Development Secretariat, stated that the initiative targeted “beggars, the mentally ill and other miscreants”, emphasizing that individuals found to be untrainable were repatriated . A similar evacuation earlier this year saw 150 people removed over a weekend; the operation aims to scale up to 1,000 persons in total.

This latest effort follows periodic clean-up campaigns by the FCTA—such as one in late 2024 that removed 34 individuals viewed as “street nuisances”.